Is home really where you park it?

I've been in Costa Rica for four months, and this really does feel like home.

I'm sure that after I get back to my motorhome, it will feel like home too. But maybe not immediately.

I think it depends on where I am. Some places naturally feel like home, and it seems that some places don't. I'm sure part of the reason is that it depends on how long I've been in a location. The longer I stay in one spot, the more it feels like home.

But that's not always the case. I've camped in places for weeks, and they never felt like home.

How to quickly feel at home anywhere

How much effort you want to put into feeling at home in an area will depend somewhat on how long you plan to be there. For example, do you plan to be in the area for three days, three weeks, or until you get bored?

Below are some of the ways I've found that make a new place feel like home a lot quicker. You'll probably find that some of these techniques will work for you, and some of them don't appeal.

• Visit a local coffee shop. I take my computer, get a cup of coffee, and maybe a muffin. I get some work done, meet a few people, listen to the conversations, and in general, get a feel for the area.

• Find the best hiking trails in the area, and pick one that works for you. Going on local hikes (whether it's hiking down by the river or through the historic district) is a great way to make an area start to feel like home to you.

• Make a trip to the closest grocery store. Spend some time there. See if they have your favorite brands.

• Walk a lot. Walk in the downtown area and in the old town area if there is one.

• Visit the local farmers' market.

• Visit some watering holes.

• Attend campground social events. Whether it's a potluck supper, a jam session, campfire, or whatever, you should attend. Get to know other campers.

• Meet people. The more people you know, the more a place will feel like home.

• Attend a local church service.

• Don't get in a rut. Check out different places.

• Attend a local jam session for the kind of music you like.

You don't have to keep doing all of these things, but give most of them a try when you arrive in a new place. I think you'll be surprised how fast your new location starts to feel like home.

Bottom line: Whether a new place feels like home or not or how long you have to be in a place before it starts feeling like home mainly depends on you and how much effort you put into making the place feel like your new home.